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‘Strange’ film flounders

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Also by Derek Meyferth:

by Derek Meyferth

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Adam Sandler’s Happy Madison Productions has done it again, if “it” means producing another mediocre comedy using a formulaic plot to generate another box office failure. The company has steadily declined in its hit-making capabilities since its namesake debuted, recently putting out the clunkers “Mr. Deeds” and “I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry.” Now Sandler gives us the bumbling antics of “Strange Wilderness,” a stinker that may be his worst yet.

The premise at least is slightly more original than usual, but the plot quickly falls into the sight gag assembly line. “Strange Wilderness” follows the inept character of Peter Gaulke (Steve Zahn, “Rescue Dawn”), a loser who has inherited his father’s television wilderness show and is struggling to keep it on the air. When the network informs his crew that they have two weeks until the show is cancelled, Gaulke follows a lead and a map with the supposed location of the legendary Bigfoot in a last-ditch effort to save his show. This takes Gaulke and his crew of misfits and junkies on a ludicrous hunt for the mythical beast while competing against their rival TV show’s host, Sky Pierson.

Besides Zahn, the “Wilderness” crew integrates some of Sandler’s usual cast of buddies, including Allen Covert and Peter Dante (“Big Daddy”), with other promising up-and-coming stars of comedy, like Jonah Hill (“Superbad”), Kevin Heffernan (“Super Troopers”) and Justin Long (“Accepted”).

Any promise the film had rested in its stars, but even here “Strange Wilderness” is a considerable letdown. Despite these encouraging names, a major downfall comes from the screenwriters’ failure to build upon the actors’ past, far more successful roles. Hill, for example, is unfortunately reduced to a rather inadequate supporting role, with his character’s comedic qualities being limited to an indeterminate accent, an ability to write vulgar songs and a tendency to strike fellow cast members in the groin. Hill fans will be frustrated as once again his lead role abilities are once again overlooked. Similarly, Heffernan plays a quiet, polite character — quite the opposite of his best role thus far, as Farva in “Super Troopers.”

Such disappointments are a repeated theme in “Strange Wilderness,” which is riddled with sophomoric comedy and grade school humor, typified by an obnoxiously lengthy scene in which the crew takes cheap shots at a character named Dick. The funniest scene in the movie — a ridiculous 20-second loop of a shark accompanied by a raspy belly laugh — was already featured in the trailer and on TV spots. The best part of the film, then, can be watched without squandering precious dollars on theater admission.

“Wilderness” is just another sad attempt at farcical comedy by Happy Madison Productions, and it goes to show that if one film makes enough money, Hollywood will produce a dozen lookalikes to turn a quick buck, especially at this time of year during the pre-Oscars lull. Most jokes fall flat, the production seems rushed, and it’s difficult to say if even those involved actually cared about the film.

While lovers of mindless comedy will be somewhat satisfied, “Strange Wilderness” has neither the brains nor heart to appeal to anyone else.

1 1/2 stars out of 5

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